East Fife we’re bank on the road, this time to take on 4th place Annan Athletic at Galabank. The two teams have met twice already this season, the first time ended in a 2-2 draw and the second, at Bayview, resulting in a 3-1 loss for the Methil men. Last weekend, the Fifer suffered a defeat at the hands of Stranraer who triumphed 3-1 at Bayview.
After the disappointing defeat to Stranraer last weekend, Greig McDonald made 4 changes to the starting eleven. Ryan Schiavone, Liam Newton, Jack Healy and Sam Denham all returning to the starting line-up in place of Stewart Murdoch, was out after carrying a slight knock, Scott Agnew, Taylor Steven and Scott Mercer, who all dropped to the bench.
The first chance of the game fell to the hosts when a long thrown from Smith found Kilsby in the box but his flicked header who comfortable for Fleming in the East Fife goal.
East Fife’s best chance of the game came in the 22nd minute through a good pattern of play from Millar to Ferguson then Trouten who slid the ball through to Shepherd inside the penalty area, but his effort was saved.
In the 35th minute, Annan took the lead of the game when a low curling through ball found the on running Chris Johnston 1-on- with Fleming and fires into the back of the net, putting the hosts 1-0 up.
Straight after Annan taking the lead, the Fifers had a chance to hit a quick-fire equaliser when Shepherd won a free kick right on the edge of the area. He took the set play himself and managed to get the up and over the wall but only into the hands of Greg Fleming in the Annan goal.
HALF TIME: Annan Athletic 1-0 East Fife
2 minutes into the second half, East Fife were reduced to 10-men when Millar received a second yellow card for a foul on Wallace.
6 minutes after going down to ten, East Fife were handed an ever-greater mountain to climb as Annan doubled their lead, again through Johnston who broke quickly following an East Fife free kick to add his second of the match.
Around the hour mark, Annan were looking to add a third to their tally. The first of a flurry of chances fell to Johnston when he battled his way into the box past and, from a tight angle, his shot was well blocked by Quinn. Another chance shortly after from a clever corner which fell to an Annan player on the edge of the box but his drilled shot flew over the bar.
With 15 minutes remaining Annan had yet another chance to put the game to bed when Barnes rans into a gap in the defence but he took too long to shoot and Fleming was quickly off his line to block.
After numerous efforts of trying, the Galabankies finally got the third and final goal when a low driven shot from Docherty bounces off the post, however the ball fell to Kilsby who, with a tap in, signs and seals the three points for the hosts.
FULL TIME: Annan Athletic 3-0 East Fife
After another poor performance, East Fife drop to 7th in the league with two teams below having games in hand, bottom of the table Bonnyrigg Rose are currently 6 points behind the Fifers. Next up for the Methil men is a tricky home game against high flying 2nd place Stirling Albion.
Annan Athletic: Fleming, Kilsby, Hooper, Muir, Trialist (Barnes 63’), Lyon (Luissint 73’), Wallace (McCartney 83’), Docherty, Smith (Galloway 73’)
East Fife: Fleming, Steele, Newton, Denham, Quinn, Millar, Trouten, Healy, Ferguson, Schiavone, Shepherd (Walls 55’)
Referee: Chris Fordyce
Attendance: 386